Berry cleaner and washer



Sept. 3, 1968 Filed Sept. 9, 1966 FIG,

R. D. M LAUCHLAN BERRY CLEANER AND WASHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 United StatesPatent 3,399,414 BERRY CLEANER AND WASHER Robert D. McLauchlan, Salem,0reg., assignor to A. B. McLauchlan Co., Inc., Salem, 0reg., acorporation of Oregon Filed Sept. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 578,353 3 Claims.(Cl. 153.11)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for cleaning and washing riperaspberries and the like in which the dry berries are first dumpeddownwardly into the receiving end of an agitated trough assembly inwhich there is a perforated bottom through which air is forced upwardly,the upwardly directed jets of air acting to cushion the impact of theberries against the trough bottom; the berries being moved onto a secondsection of the assembly where they pass over an agitated grate whileupward air suction aids further in carrying away foreign particles fromthe dry berries, and the berries then being subjected to washing andscreening.

This invention relates to the cleaning and washing of berries such asraspherries and the like from which it is necessary to remove bits ofleaves and other foreign particles which generally become attached tothe berries before or during the picking of the same.

It has been found that merely submitting such berries to the usualwashing, in the event the berries are washed before being furtherprocessed, does not necessarily result in getting all such debris orforeign particles removed from the berries and that quite frequentlyfirst immersing the berries in water only causes some such particles toadhere more firmly to the berries.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means forcleaning berries, with which means the berries are first subjected to acleaning in the dry state, and in which the berries, if washing of theberries is desired, are then subsequently subjected to the washing.

When berries, such as raspberries, are processed in large quantities,particularly when they are initially dumped onto a grid or other hardsurface, considerable damaging or breaking up of the berries invariablytakes place, and broken-up berries or parts of berries, while stillusable for some purposes such as jelly and jam, do not command the samemarket price as substantially whole, unbroken berries. A special objectof the present invention accordingly is to provide an improved berrycleaner into which the berries can be initially dumped safely withoutsuffering any particular damage or break- 1ng up.

A related object is to provide improved means for first cleaning berriesin the dry state where the berries will be subjected to shaking and upand down movement for the dislodging of foreign particles attached tothem but without the usual likelihood of damage to the berries.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved berrycleaner and washer into which the berries are first dumped in a drystate and are subject to various air currents as well as agitation forthe purpose of entirely removing most of the foreign particles from theberries, and are then given the desired washing.

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The manner in which these objects are accomplished and the constructionand operation of the device of the present invention will be brieflydescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevation of the entire device taken on line1-1 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 2 is a corresponding plan view of the same, taken on the line 22 ofFIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises a main substantiallyrectangular trough 10 having a pair of parallel side walls 11, a rearwall 12, spaced solid transverse bottom members 13, 14 and 15,positioned as shown in the figures, and additional bottom portions aslater described.

The trough 10 is mounted on two pairs of rocker arms, namely a forwardpair of rocker arms, one of which is shown at 16 in FIG. 1, and a rearpair, one of which is shown at 17 in this figure. The forward and rearpair of rocker arms are securely mounted on a pair of shafts 18 and 19respectively, which shafts are rotatably supported in bearings securedon the upright legs of a rigid supporting frame structure designated asa whole by the reference 20 in FIG. 1. The forward and rear pairs ofarms are similar but not parallel, the rear pair of arms 17 beinginclined at a greater angle from the vertical than the forward pair ofarms 16.

A lower arm 21 is secured to the shaft 18 and a corresponding lower arm22 similarly is secured to the shaft 19. The bottom ends of the lowerarms 21 and 22 are connected by a link bar 23, the ends of the link barbeing pivotally connected to the arms 21 and 22 respectively. Anoperating arm 24 is also firmly secured to the shaft 18, and a pitmanrod 25 connects this arm 24 with a crank 26 driven by belt and pulleyconnection from a. motor M. Thus operation of the motor M results incomposite oscillatory vibration being imparted to the entire troughassembly, the composite oscillatory vibration causing not only up anddown movement of berries in the trough 10 but also imparting forwardtravel to them (to the right as viewed in the figures), the nature ofthe resulting composite oscillatory vibration being similar to thatdescribed in US. Letters Patent No. 2,591,086, issued Apr. 1, 1952, andentitled Berry Cleaner.

The berries to be cleaned and processed are either dumped from eachcrate in the usual manner into the intake end of the trough 10, orpreferably, as each crate is to be emptied it is placed upside down onan open frame 47 (FIG. 1) and a switch (not shown) is momentarily turnedon to operate cam means 48 connected with the frame 47 to agitate theframe for the purpose of dislodging any berries which may have becomestuck in the crate. This enables any such berries to become dislodgedwith less possible damage to them than with the more violent manualmeans customarily resorted to in such cases.

At the intake and of the trough 10 into which the berries are dumped thebottom of the trough is formed by a perforated plate 27. This platecontains small perforations, preferably approximately of an inch indiameter and spaced from A to /2 of an inch apart, over the entire areaof the plate. A continuous flexible wall or skirt 28 extends downwardlyfrom the trough 10 and the top edge of this flexible wall 28 has an airseal connection with all four edges of the perforated plate 27. Thebottom edge of this continuops flexible wall 28 similarly has an airseal connection with the top edge of a stationary air chamber or funnel29 leading upwardly from an air pump delivery assembly 30. Thus, withthe operation of the air pump, continuous jets of air are deliveredupwardly through the various perforations in the plate 27. The flexiblewall or skirt 28, preferably formed of neoprene or some other similarlyflexible material, enables a sealed air passageway to be maintainedbetween the top of the stationary air chamber or funnel 29 and the edgesof the vibrating and pulsating plate 27 and trough bottom.

Due to the upwardly directed jets of air through the perforations in theplate 27, the berries as they are dumped into the receiving end of thetrough 10, are cushioned by the opposing air jets and thus are kept fromstriking the plate 27 with any impact sufficient to cause damage to theberries. This is a very important feature of the invention for it hasbeen found heretofore that the initial impact received by depositedberries, especially when they are dumped in large quantities into areceiving trough or other receptacle, is responsible for a largeproportion of the breaking up and damaging of the berries, particularlyin the case of such berries are raspberries. Furthermore, the encounterbetween the berries and the opposing upward jets of air causesconsiderably increased pulsation and agitation to be imparted to theberries, which aids in loosening bits of straw, leaves and other foreignparticles on the dry berries.

From the perforated plate 27 the berries in due course pass onto a grid31 which constitutes the next section of the bottom of the trough 10.The grid 31 is formed of rods extending transversely across the bottomof the trough and preferably spaced approximately /32 of an inch apart.During the travel across this grid 31 the dry berries lose the dislodgedforeign particles, some of which drop down between the bars of the grid31 into a hopper 32, suspended from the bottom portion of the trough tobe discharged through a waste outlet 33 onto the ground.

A stationary hood 34, having a bottom intake area substantially the samesize as the grid 31, is suspended by suitable means (not shown) so thatits bottom edge is spaced only a short distance above, and insubstantial reg istration with, the grid 31. The hood 34 is connected atthe top to an air suction pipe 35 which in turn is connected with avacuum blower (not shown) so that an upward air suction is maintainedthrough the hood 34. Small, lightweight dislodged foreign particles,which might not readily drop down through the grid 31 for removal, aredrawn upwardly through the hood 34 by the air suction as such particles,together with the berries, are agitated by the oscillatory vibrationimparted to the berries.

As a result of the effect of the various air currents and agitationgiven to the dry berries and associated foreign brief washing, assumingthat the washing of the berries is desired as is generally customary.

On beyond the smooth bottom member 13 the bottom of the trough 10 isformed with a short washing tank portion having an upwardly rearwardlysloping bottom wall 36 extending transversely across the trough. Waterfrom a suitable supply source (not shown) under pressure passes into thedeeper rear end of this small tank through delivery pipes 37 and then isdischarged over the upper forward end of the tank bottom 36 and passesdown through a second grid 39. A slide 38 extends down from the forwardedge of the bottom member 13 into the water and extends over the inletpipes 37, facilitating the passage of the berries into the washing tank.

The second grid 39, constituting the next portion of the trough bottombeyond the washing tank, is composed of rods extending longitudinally ofthe trough and spaced preferably about /16 of an inch apart. Thisspacing be, tween the bars enables any very small pieces of berries,which are too small for use, together with any foreign particles whichmay still be left, to pass down through this grid with the dischargewater into a collecting basin 40 and then out through a waste pipe 41.

As the berries move over the second grid 39 from the washing tank, theyare subjected to sprays of fresh water delivered down from a pluralityof spraying nozzles, two of which are shown at 42 in FIG. 1, which aresupplied from a suitable source of water (not shown). From the grid 39the berries move over the transverse bottom member 14 and thence onto athird and final grid 43.

The grid 43, like the grid 39, is composed of rodsextendinglongitudinally of the trough. The rods in this grid, however, are spacedfurther apart, preferably being spaced about of an inch apart, in orderthat the broken pieces of berries, too large to pass through thepreceding grid 39, but nevertheless too small for desirable inclusionwith the final selected output of berries from the device, may becollected as a second grade product. The berry pieces dropping downthrough the grid 43 pass into a collecting and disbursing funnel 44 fromthe bottom of which they are discharged either into a suitablecollecting receptacle or onto a conveyor such as indicated at 45 in FIG.1 for conveyance to other collecting means. These broken pieces ofberries, while commanding a lower price on the market than substantiallywhole berries, are suitable for jams, jellies and similar products forwhich whole berries are not necessary.

In the last step of the process the cleaned and washed berries pass fromthe third grid 43 over the end bottom member 15 of the trough and aredelivered onto a conveyor 46 for further inspecting, treating and/ orpackaging.

I claim:

1. In a device for processing berries, a berry-receiving portion intowhich the berries to be processed are dumped downwardly, said portionhaving a pair of side walls, a rear wall and a substantially horizontalbottom wall, said bottom wall provided over its entire extent with aplurality of small openings, an air chamber extending entirely beneathsaid bottom wall, means for delivering a continuing supply of air underpressure into'said chamber and thereby causing continuous jets of air tobe directed upwardly through said openings in said bottomwall, wherebysaid air jets act as cushions to protect the berries from striking saidbottom wall with damaging impacts during the dumping of the berries intosaid portion.

2. In a berry cleaner, a trough-like member having side walls and an endwall, a perforated plate forming the bottom of the berry-receivingportion of said member, an air chamber beneath said plate, means fordelivering a continuing supply of air into said chamber and therebycausing continuous jets of air to be directed upwardly through theperforations in said plate, said air jets acting to cushion the impactreceived by berries being dumped into said receiving portion of saidmember, a grid forming a portion of the bottom for said member adjoiningsaid receiving portion, a hood mounted over said grid with the bottom ofsaid hood spaced above said grid, and means for producing continuous airsuction upwardly through said hood, whereby, as the berries pass on tosaid grid from said berry-receiving portion of said member, heavierdislodged foreign particles from the berries will tend to drop downthrough said grid and the lighter dislodged particles will tend to bedrawn upwardly through said hood.

' 3. In a berry cleaner and washer of the character described, anoscillating trough, a perforated plate constituting the bottom wall inthe receiving end of said trough, a stationary air chamber positionedbelow said receiving end of said trough, a sealed flexible wallconnecting said air chamber with the bottom of said trough around saidperforated plate, means for delivering a continuing supply of air underpressure into said chamber 5 6 and thereby causing jets of air to bedirected upwardly References Cited through the perforations in saidplate to cushion the im- UNITED STATES PATENTS pact received by berriesbeing dumped into said receiving end of said trough, a grid in thebottom of said trough 2,381,172 8/1945 Lunqbergbeyond said perforatedplate, a hood spaced above said 5 2,999,262 9/1961 Jenkms et a1 15 '308XR grid, means for producing continuous air suction upward- FOREIGNPATENTS 1y through said hood,'a berry-washing tank in said trough beyondsaid grid, the bottom of said tank sloping upward- 1189921 3/1959 Francely and forwardly, a second grid in the bottom of said trough beyond saidwashing tank, and water spray means 10 CHARLES WILLMUTH Primary Exammerpositioned above said second grid. ROBERT I. SMITH, Assistant Examiner.

